Culture club and Clean bandit feature in Beeb’s Philly programme from Salford

The exciting line-up for BBC Philharmonic Presents… 2014 coming from Salford has been announced .

There will be performances from electronic dance sensations Clean Bandit, American singer-songwriter John Grant and 1980s pop legends Culture Club, in a series of concerts broadcast in partnership with BBC North from Salford this autumn.

The concerts will be broadcast across seven of the BBC’s national radio networks, as well as BBC Radio Manchester, as part of BBC Philharmonic Presents…, which takes place from 10 September to 17 October 2014.

The series will see exciting newcomers to the UK music scene, as well as established artists, heading to Salford to collaborate with the 90-strong BBC Philharmonic, in a celebration of orchestral music in its many different guises. They will be joined by presenters from each station including Zane Lowe from BBC Radio 1, Sara Cox from Radio 2 and Suzy Klein from Radio 3.

Highlights of the programme include a brand-new symphony based on Clean Bandit’s recent debut album, New Eyes, which includes their massive summertime hit ‘Rather Be’, performed live on Radio 1.

Culture Club will revisit their seminal album, Colour by Numbers, in a recording for Radio 2. Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker will present a special edition of his award-winning Radio 4 series Wireless Nights, while The Symphony of Medinah for Radio 5 live will relive the drama of the 2012 Ryder Cup., while The Symphony of Medinah for Radio 5 live will relive the drama of the 2012 Ryder Cup.

Singer-songwriter John Grant will perform with the orchestra for BBC Radio 6 Music; a section of BBC Radio 3’s In Tune will simulcast with Blue Peter live on CBBC as the orchestra shows off some of the great repertoire at the heart of the BBC’s Ten Pieces schools project; and BBC Asian Network will celebrate the music of RD Burman, one of India’s greatest film composers.

Ending the series will be a poignant reflection on World War One (WW1), as the recollections of a local Salford man are set to music and performed live on BBC Radio Manchester in the dramatic spaces of IWM North (part of Imperial War Museums).

Simon Webb, General Manager of the BBC Philharmonic says: “Following successful BBC Philharmonic Presents… performances in 2011 and 2012, the series returns this year to celebrate the launch of BBC Music with an outstanding line-up of varied and imaginative collaborations across our national radio networks. This range and variety is a key element to the BBC Philharmonic’s work that we’re looking forward to sharing with audiences across the board.”

Bob Shennan, Director of BBC Music, adds: “These unique collaborations will bring together the internationally renowned BBC Philharmonic and globally acclaimed artists, showcasing some wonderfully diverse music to our audiences and engaging listeners across the country through our national radio networks. There will be something for everyone.”

Tickets for all shows in the BBC Philharmonic Studio are free and will be allocated via random ballot with 30 per cent of tickets going to local residents in Salford. Those who want to be in the audience should visit bbc.co.uk/philharmonic and sign up to the BBC Philharmonic newsletter ‘Quay Notes’ to be notified when ticket applications are opened.

The BBC Philharmonic is supported by Salford City Council.